McDonald's Is Bringing the Dollar Menu Back

Miracles do exist in 2017.

On Tuesday, the chain announced the nationwide return of the "$1 $2 $3 Dollar Menu" starting January 4. Customers will be able to buy a sausage burrito, cheeseburger, McChicken, or a soft drink of any size for $1 each. For $2 each, McDonald's is offering Sausage McGriddles, a 2-piece Buttermilk Crispy Tenders, a Bacon McDouble, or a Small McCafé Beverage, while a Sausage McMuffin with Egg, Classic Chicken Sandwich, Triple Cheeseburger, and Happy Meal will be $3 per item.

This is the first time a Happy Meal has appeared on a nationwide Dollar Menu, and the Classic Chicken Sandwich is also a first. According to a press release, the Classic Chicken Sandwich will consist of a "buttermilk crispy chicken filet made with all white meat served on a toasted bun with pickles and the recently introduced creamy, sweet, and tangy Signature Sauce."

Somehow, we've all gone five years without this. According to Eater, McDonald's introduced the Dollar Menu in 2002, but then removed it in 2013 because it "wasn't particularly profitable." Instead, the chain introduced a McPick $2 last year that let you buy two items together for a dollar each. It's not quite clear why McDonald's is bringing back the Dollar Menu now, but it might be because some of its other recent changes haven't been that well received. You'll recall, for example, the Millennial Burger, a kale-and-Sriracha concoction that was thoroughly mocked on Twitter in October for being somewhat out-of-touch. As it turns out, a true Millennial Burger is one you can get for $1.